Welcome! I read your original post after reading this post. I'll try not bore you too much
I had my first medically documented grand mal while driving in 2006 at the age of 35. It was after the hurricanes in the gulf coast, after living for 4 months in its devastation, I was sick, tired, mal-nourished and very stressed.
I didn't have insurance so the treatment I had for the next couple of years was through ER's, a local income based clinic and then an internal med dr. I was put on dilantin, then tegretol and they kept putting me on anxiety meds. I had to be resusicated 3 different times after/during seizures in the next 2 years.
I stopped all meds, moved into a little house down the street from my parents, rarely saw anyone and took classes online. I like school so that wasn't overly stressful. I gardened, rarely drove and acquired a beagle that learned to pick up on when I was going to seize. I know more now then I did then about epilepsy and my condition. But during those two years I only suffered nocturnals and partials.
I am a picky eater. I don't eat fast food or fried food. I garden and was able to can and eat alot of fresh vegetables during that time. I eat chicken breast, turkey, beef occasionally, lot of vegetables and some fruit. I stopped drinking caff coffee and have maybe a cup of decaf a day. I don't drink soda, ocassionally a half of a 7-up if my stomach is upset. No msg, no seasonings except pepper and salt. Many seasonings stimulate the brain, esp those in my beloved italian sauces.
I don't drink alcohol and I don't use drugs. I drink a ton of water. I also try to not let my blood sugar get too low.
Once I got insurance I had everything tested. And ordered my medical records from everywhere. I suffered a head trauma as a child. I have mtle with hippocampal sclerosis, which the drs suspect came from the childhood tbi.
I've also been tracking everything in my life for a year and a half. My eye dr tinted my prescription eye glasses, I have my computers set to low brightness and I watch precious little tv. I also used to be an avid chic gamer but am no longer able to handle the graphics. I am photosensitive.
I have an autoimmune disorder and went into premature perimenopause the same year the seizures began and the drs suspect premature ovarian failure. Once there was another change in my female stuff I had my first t/c in 2 years and they put me on keppra. I almost killed myself during the fall.
The epilepsy center recommended epilepsy surgery for me but at this point I can't afford it and I am not ready.
Due to the childhood head bashing I took I can't hear in my left ear but sounds vibrate off of the dislocated bones and cause seizures. So I also have issues with noise, crowds and certain voice types. Like my dads deep voice
Soooo, I read all food labels and try to keep it as natural and simple as possible. Sugar and chocolate cause migraines for me, as do some other things. I rarely leave the house, the house has to stay at 65 degrees, the heat kills me. I take my keppra, a multi-vitamin and d3-5000. I walk my treadmill a couple times a week and can handle some soothing music. I like Cat Stevens while on the treadmill.
The catamenial epilepsy is giving me alot of grief at the moment. Probs sleeping, hot flashes, etc. Under my current circumstances I am averaging a mix of 4.6 partials and nocturals a week. But at least I am not eating the floor with t/c falls. The stress of buying the house, moving, etc this spring has my annual avg at 7.8 a week.
You will find many friends here with a variety of situations and tons of information. I think most will agree that with E it's an individual trial and error situation.
I hope you both get comfortable here and enjoy the company. Best of luck with your research and experimenting.
